History of the Batman #10 – Dick Sprang’s Caped Crusader: 1943, Part Two

The ending the year 1943 brought many firsts to Batman’s history in comics, such as the Batmobile to grace a comic cover to introductions of classic yet lesser known reoccurring villains such as the Cavalier. Although 1943 was an exciting year for the Dark Knight in comics, in the Summer Columbia Pictures put Batman in a movie for the first time. The 15 serial series introduced the ‘Bat Cave’ and the permanent look of character Alfred Pennyworth. Along with these amazing developments, Dick Sprang becomes the current artistic talent with Kane and Robinson. Plus, World’s Finest still want you to go out and buy war bonds to support the American troops, illustrating DC Comics’ tactics to reach not just to a young audience but to citizens all over America. Let’s conclude this golden age year!

Detective Comics (Vol 1) 77, July 1943 *Part of Chronology

Cover by:

Bob Kane and George Roussos

The Crime Clinic

Created by:

Bill Finger – writer

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Story: Surgeon Dr. Matthew Thorne helps criminals commit crimes throughout Gotham City in his own clinic. The Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin track down Thorne and after escaping a trap by the doctor, they arrest him and take him to the police.

Batman (Vol 1) 18, August / September 1943 *Part of Chronology

Cover by:

Dick Sprang and Stan Kaye

Sprang’s first Batman cover for DC Comics! And check out Hitler in the upper left hand corner…’Insure the 4th of July’!

The Secret of Hunter’s Inn

Created by:

Joe Samachson – writer

Jerry Robinson – pencils, inks

Story: While visiting Hunter’s Inn, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson come across the criminal twins Tweedledee and Tweedledum and a string of robberies, transforming them to become Batman and Robin. After having to be saved by Alfred when they are knocked out by gas, Batman discovers there are two inns, one fake for criminals to hide and the Caped Crusader guides the police to the fake inn.

Robin Studies His Lessons

Created by:

Joe Samachson – writer

Bob Kane – pencils

Jerry Robinson – inks

Story: Bruce grounds Dick for bringing home a bad report card and orders him to study while going on patrol alone. When Grayson learns that Batman has been trapped, he uses his knowledge of chemistry to rescue Batman. The issue ends with Bruce talking to Dick’s teacher, learning that his report card was switched with another student; his grades were fine as usual.

The Good Samaritan Cops

Created by:

Bill Finger – writer

Jack Burnley – pencils, inks

Story: Batman and the Boy Wonder spend a day with the police emergency team, learning how much they help the community and even pitching in on small missions, valuing their commitment to the city.

The Crime Surgeon

Created by:

Bill Finger – writer

Bob Kane – pencils

Jerry Robinson – inks

Story: Returning from Detective Comics 77, The Crime Doctor, Dr. Matthew Thorne, escapes from prison and Batman and Robin have to track him down. When they find him, Robin is shot and Thorne helps Robin heal, yet slips out of Batman’s reach. The Dark Knight finds him in the middle of another robbery the Doctor help initiate and Thorne is shot by one of his own men and dies.

Detective Comics (Vol 1) 78, August 1943 *Part of Chronology

Cover by:

Jack Burnley

The Bond Wagon

Created by:

Joseph Greene – writer

Jack Burnley – pencils

George Roussos – inks

Story: In a tale reflecting the current World War, Batman and Robin create the ‘Bond Wagon’ by selling war bonds all the while reenacting the Revolutionary War. When hearing of their success, Nazi spies try to commit sabotage and both the actors and our heroes stop their evil plans.

How patriotic!

Detective Comics (Vol 1) 79, September 1943 *Part of Chronology

Cover by:

Jerry Robinson

Destiny’s Auction

Created by:

Don Cameron – writer

Jerry Robinson – pencils, inks

Story: Batman and Robin have to find stolen jewels off of a fortuneteller’s predictions that came true; the diamonds are within one of three personal trunks that were lost between three people. The Dynamic Duo find all the trunks mixed up, the jewels and the criminal who stole them.

World’s Finest Comics (Vol 1) 11, Fall 1943 *Part of Chronology

Cover by:

Jack Burnley

A Thief in Time

Created by:

Bill Finger – writer

Jerry Robinson – pencils

Fred Ray – inks

Story: A man from a future time than Batman’s, Rob Callender, creates a black ray device that briefly blinds people and he robs them of their everyday items. Eventually the time warp fails and Callender can’t bring them back to his time period.

Batman (Vol 1) 19, October / November 1943 *Part of Chronology

Cover by:

Dick Sprang

Batman Makes a Deadline

Created by:

Dick Sprang – pencils, inks

Story: After rescuing Larry Spade, a reporter, he helps the Batman expose a racketeering ring. Although in the process he is deadly injured, he is able to write this expose and see it printed in the newspaper before Spade passes away.

Atlantis Goes to War

Created by:

Don Cameron – writer

Dick Sprang – pencils, inks

Story: While hunting down a Nazi submarine, Batman and Robin discover the lost city of Atlantis, whose citizens have been brainwashed by the Nazi spies, bidding the Caped Crusader a danger to their society. Once Robin saves Batman from being executed and convinces the Atlanteans to be on their side, they defeat the Nazis and leave Atlantis, never to tell anyone of its location.

The Case of the Timid Lion

Created by:

Dick Sprang – pencils, inks

Story: When the Joker successfully puts criminals into animal cages, the Batman has to track down both the clown and criminal Mr. Lyon, who is using Joker’s plots to easily commit robberies.

Collector of Millionaires

Created by:

Joe Samachson – writer

Dick Sprang – pencils

Norman Fallon – inks

Story: Batman and Robin undercover a ring of imposters of millionaires when Bruce Wayne is held captive and someone else replaces him. They track down the leader of the operation, Ali, and bring him to justice.

Detective Comics (Vol 1) 80, October 1943

Cover by:

Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson

The End of Two-Face

Created by:

Bill Finger – writer

Bob Kane – pencils

Jerry Robinson – inks

Story: Harvey Dent, who has transformed into Two-Face, escapes prison. When Batman and Robin find him and engage in a fight, Two-Face accidentally shoots his girlfriend Gilda. After being taken to the hospital, Harvey wants to reform and turn back to the good side. Helping the Dynamic Duo apprehend his old gang, Dent has plastic surgery to repair his face.

Bat Facts: This change for the better by Two-Face actually turns to a hiatus of crimes revolving around the number two. We don’t see Harvey Dent until Batman (Vol 1) 50 in the end of 1948.

Detective Comics (Vol 1) 81, November 1943

Cover by:

Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson

Created by:

Don Cameron – writer

Bob Kane – pencils

George Roussos

Story: Batman chases throughout Gotham a new rogue calling himself the Cavalier, a chivalrous criminal, after he steals a baseball from a boy.

Bat Facts: The debut of the Golden Age reoccurring rogue of the Cavalier, a gimmick character that expressed the lighthearted stories that would dominate within the next decade.

Batman (Vol 1) 20, December 1943 / January 1944

Cover by:

Dick Sprang

Sprang’s now famous cover presents the popular ‘Batmobile’ on a Batman comic book cover for the first time. Literally bursting through the cover, the Caped Crusader and the Dark Knight are escaping what could be thought of as a shoot out (bullet holes in the windshield) in Jerry Robinson’s black and red design with a bat shaped mask front and a big fin.

The Centuries of Crime

Created by:

Don Cameron – writer

Jack Burnley – pencils, inks

Story: The Joker fools two wealthy men with a story of Percival Pruitt and his time machine and Batman and Robin have to stop this Joker’s jokes before he robs the gullible men.

The Trial of Titus Keyes

Created by:

Bill Finger – writer

Bob Kane – pencils

Jerry Robinson – inks

Story: A series of safe robberies around Gotham have Batman and Robin following previous safe company owner Titus Keyes, who was imprisoned for similar safe robberies years prior.

In 1943, Columbia Pictures released the first Batman film in a 15 series serial titled ‘Batman’, starring Lewis Wilson as Bruce Wayne / Batman.v A house ad (cover art from Batman (Vol 1) 10) was placed in Batman (Vol 1) 20 to encourage readers to see Batman and Robin on the big screen.

The Lawmen of the Sea

Created by:

Bill Finger – writer

Jack Burnley – pencils, inks

Story: After joining the Gotham City Harbor police on patrol, Batman and Robin find themselves aiding the police with stopping harbor pirates.

Bruce Wayne Loses the Guardianship of Dick Grayson

Created by:

Bill Finger – writer

Bob kane – pencils

Jerry Robinson – inks

Story: Uncle George and Aunt Clara retrieve custody of Dick Grayson from Bruce Wayne, temporarily ending the Dynamic Duo. However, Batman discovers that Grayson’s family are crooks, wanting one million dollars from Bruce to get Grayson back. When Batman comes to save Dick, he is captured and it is up to Alfred to save them. In the end Grayson is put back into Bruce’s custody as his young ward.

Alfred to the rescue!

Detective Comics (Vol 1) 82, December 1943 *Part of Chronology

Cover by:

Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson

Quarterback of Crime

Created by:

Don Cameron – writer

Bob Kane – pencils

George Roussos – inks

Story: A new gang in Gotham uses football plays to commit crimes and Alfred shows his heroic side by taking on the crooks alongside Batman and Robin.

World’s Finest Comics (Vol 1) 12, Winter 1943

Cover by:

Jack Burnley

Alfred Gets His Man

Created by:

Bill Finger – writer

Dick Sprang – pencils, inks

Story: Alfred takes on two criminals and unfortunately becomes captured while Bruce and Dick are on a fishing trip. Contacting the duo through his radio, Batman and Robin come to the rescue, freeing Alfred and arresting the crooks.

Bat Facts: This is the last appearance of Alfred Beagle as a heavy set balding butler. After 1943’s ‘Batman’ black and white serial, the physical appearance of Alfred Pennyworth, played by William Austin, the brave and trusted butler would take on the aesthetics and eventually last name of the film’s Alfred.

Next week we will begin the year 1944 in our chronological look at the Batman in DC Comics!

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About Londyn Jackson

Southern California girl born and raised. Graduate from LMU and an art historian with a passion for Beatles, Batman and [Hieronymus] Bosch. By day Londyn is Mrs. Batgirl to her students, but by night she relives Batman's 75 year history with her fan blog at Instagram.com/HistoryoftheBatman (HistoryoftheBatman.Tumblr.com, Facebook.com/HistoryoftheBatman).